Aug. 23, 2004

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Former Michigan State All-American Paul Terek is in 16th place as the opening day of the decathlon has come to a conclusion at the Olympic Games. Terek has 4,060 points after five events, which is slightly behind his pace of 4,242 points at the end of Day One from the U.S. Olympic Trials last month. Dmitriy Karpov of Kazakhstan leads after Monday's events with 4,689 points, followed by Roman Serble of the Czech Republic with 4,594. Representing the United States, Bryan Clay (4,554 points) is in third place, while Tom Pappas (4,415) sits in fifth. Terek opened the day with a season-best time of 10.92 in the 100-meter dash to collect 878 points, before soaring 6.94 meters in the long jump for 799 points. His best individual finish came next with a throw of 15.15 meters in the shot put to place ninth with another 799 points. Terek jumped 1.94 meters in the high jump to earn 749 points before ending the day with a time of 49.56 in the 400-meter dash for 835 points to reach 4,060 after the opening day. The second day of competition, which is traditionally Terek's strongest, features the 110-meter hurdles, discus, pole vault, javelin and the 1,500-meter run.